'Purchase all that Hermes merchandise now': Text messages reveal Netflix director accused of $11 million fraud rushing to buy luxury goods

The ongoing trial of filmmaker Carl Rinsch has exposed his extravagant spending habits, including high-end luxury items and a nearly half-million-dollar mattress, according to testimony in Manhattan federal court.

Prosecutors allege Rinsch misappropriated $11 million from Netflix, funds intended for a sci-fi television project called White Horse. Despite partial filming, the series went over budget and no episode was completed.

During the trial, former personal assistant Maria Skotnikova testified that after receiving additional funding from Netflix in March 2020, Rinsch hurriedly purchased luxury items, including Herms goods. A text message shown to the jury read: "Get all that Hermes stuff now. This is your job. We have to do this. Or else the money goes bye-bye. Get it."

Skotnikova described Rinsch comparing his spending to the plot of the 1985 film Brewsters Millions, in which a man must spend a windfall quickly to keep it. She also detailed trips to meetings in high-end vehicles like Ferraris and Rolls-Royces, which an FBI forensic accountant said were bought with Netflix money.

Rinschs lavish acquisitions extended to furniture, including pieces from French designer Jacques Adnet. Skotnikova said he sought to control the market for these items by owning multiple pieces. His indulgences also included more than 480 food delivery orders over six months in 2022.

Top Hstens mattress salesperson Johan Ericsson testified that Rinsch purchased four mattresses for over $617,000, with the most expensive being the Grand Vividus model. This mattress, requiring over 700 hours to produce, comes with a base, leather headboard, and even a bed doctor for home massages. Rinsch later replaced three lesser models with an additional Grand Vividus mattress, describing them as very special beds.

Judge Jed Rakoff noted the extensive focus on mattress details but allowed the testimony. Ericsson confirmed that the mattresses were for personal use, not production needs.

Rinschs defense contends that he is a "creative genius" overwhelmed by the projects challenges and lacking adequate support from Netflix. In a deposition, Rinsch justified his $450,000 mattress purchase by stating its high value retention compared to lower-priced alternatives.

Prosecutors are expected to conclude their case soon, while Rinschs participation in testifying remains undecided.

Author: Riley Thompson